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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "security keeping fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- upexpresscourier@megamail.pt (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "mrs.Anthonia Nwafor" <arthurtrout4@verizon.net>
Reply-To: upexpresscourier@megamail.pt
Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:37:46 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT UP-EXPRESS COURIER SERVICE FOR YOUR DELIVERY
Good Day
I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your package box which contents your $2.500,000.00, but did not heard from you since that time. Then I went and deposited the package with UPEXPRESS COURIER SERVICE here in Benin Republic, because I travelled to Iraq to see my boss and will not come back till next month end. You can stop any commication with any one because you fund is now registerd with this company.
I want You to contact the UPEXPRESS COURIER SERVICE to know when they will deliver your package. I have paid for the delivering charges and insurance fee.The only money you have to send to them is there security keeping fee which is $125. Us Dollars to received your package.
BLOW IS CONTACT INFORS OF THE COMPANY
Contact Dr. Desmond Williams
E-mail:( upexpresscourier@megamail.pt )
Tell: +229 97877339
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the security keeping fee. For your best information don' t let their diplomatic agent knows the contents of this package, Is only they director Dr.Desmond Williams knows the contents of this package as he is the one helps me to cash your bank draft in bank. I gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm it to them again to avoid any mistake on the delivering.
Reconfirm below information to the company.
Your Full Name-----------------------
Your Address---------------------------
Home telephone---------------------
Office telephone---------------------
Your pic------- ---------------------------
Your company registration number ---------EM5507439
Code number-----------------------------------------48SEIO41
Let me know immediately you receive your package and sheck the contents
wheather the complete of the total $2.500,000.00
Thanks.
mrs.Anthonia Nwafor
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